Chafing dish-like device

ABSTRACT

A chafing dish having a depending shelf of unique configurations so as to receive a conventional heating unit in sufficiently retained relationship to make the assemblage easily asportable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention pertains to dish-like devices commonly referred toas chafing dishes, which are used to contain and dispense food primarilyin a heated manner. Prior art chafing dishes have suffered in that theyhave not utilized heating elements that are readily compatibleconsidering the nature of the function to be achieved. That is, chafingdishes have traditionally been heated via cans of combustible gel or thelike which are placed underneath the chafing dish to provide a heatsource or, alternately, a heating means attached to an external sourceof fuel has been placed under the bottom of the chafing dish or on ashelf provided therefor. These prior art uses have been cumbersomeparticularly considering the ambulatory nature of chafing dishes whenthey are used by caterers and the like.

[0003] The chafing dish of the instant invention solves many of theseproblems by providing a chafing dish with a shelf having continuoussurface and of adequate size to receive a conventional heating unitwherein the heating unit may contain a source of fuel supply withinitself.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Horewitch U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,722 pertains to BURNER ASSEMBLY FORHEATING CHAFING DISHES wherein a chafing dish is disclosed having adiscontinuous shelf supported therebeneath having the ubiquitous chafingdish with openings 33 and 35 dimensioned to receive wick-type or opencanister-type of heaters which normally contain combustible materialwhich are lighted when heat is desired. This patented chafing dishrequires an external heating member that is positioned outside of theconfines of the chafing dish assembly or unit itself.

[0006] Schwartz U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,157 discloses a PORTABLE FOODWARMING DEVICE ASSEMBLY which is again illustrative of the type ofchafing dish heretofore found in the prior art having a shelf supportedbeneath the bottom of the chafing dish but configured to receivecanisters or cans of combustible material which are ignited but in theinstant invention of the patent utilizes an externally located heaterfor heating the contents of the chafing dish.

[0007] The foregoing references, as well as other references cited inthe Information Disclosure Statement filed concurrently herewithillustrate chafing dishes which are cumbersome to use, expensive tomanufacture and still have certain shortcomings which the invention ofthe instant patent application overcomes.

[0008] For example, the chafing dish of the instant application has adepending shelf positioned so as to adequately receive a conventionalheating unit with a self-contained source of fuel, much like thoseheating units found in camping situations, and wherein the burner of theheating unit is in close proximity to the bottom wall of the chafingdish itself. Additionally, in other embodiments, a lip or flange orother retaining means may be positioned on one or two of the long sidesof the shelf in order to maintain the singularity of chafing dish andassociated heating unit so as to make the same easily portable for useby, as for example, caterers, restaurateurs and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is directed to a dish-like device from which foodis to be dispensed, comprising the combination of an open topped memberdefining a container having side and bottom walls and being adapted tocontain food therein. The open topped member has depending legs adaptedto be supported from a support surface. A shelf having lateral edges iscooperatively supported from the open topped member a predetermineddistance from the bottom wall thereof and defines a space ofpredetermined size with the shelf in one instance or embodiment of theinvention having an upraised projection on at least one of the lateraledges in order to be able to act as an abutment stop where a heatingunit or member is associated with the dish-like device.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a chafingdish-like device which has a shelf having a continuous surface suspendedbeneath a bottom wall of the chafing dish and which is adapted toreceive a heater unit therein.

[0011] It is another important object of the invention to provide adish-like device which has a shelf supported therefrom and which issized to accommodate conventionally found heating units of the typehaving a self-contained source of fuel.

[0012] It is another important object of the invention to provide achafing dish wherein the chafing dish is of metal construction and has adependedly supported shelf of a size to accommodate a conventionallyfound burner or heating unit wherein the burner is positionable in closeproximity to the bottom wall of the chafing dish.

[0013] It is another more important specific object of the invention toprovide a chafing dish having a depending supported shelf which isadapted to receive a heating unit, and wherein the heating unit isretained in position by means of an abutment stop or the like on theshelf for ease of transportation of the chafing dish.

[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the hereinafter following commentarytaken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the chafing dish of theinvention with the conventional food container being shown in theexploded position and with the conventional cover for the chafing dishbeing shown in phantom line;

[0016]FIG. 2 illustrates the chafing dish of the invention shown in FIG.1 but with the heating unit extracted from its position beneath thebottom wall of the chafing dish;

[0017]FIG. 3 illustrates the chafing dish as shown in FIG. 1 but in moredetail;

[0018]FIG. 4 illustrates the back view of the chafing dish shown in FIG.1; and

[0019]FIG. 5 illustrates the chafing dish of FIG. 3 but showing anotherretaining means or abutment stop for the heating unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED

[0020] The detailed description set forth below in connection with theappended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferredembodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the onlyforms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized.The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps forconstructing and operating the invention in connection with theillustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the sameor equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of the invention.

[0021] Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals of referencerefer to like elements throughout, it will be seen that the chafing dish2 of the invention comprises a first container 4 having long side walls6 and 8 with short side walls 10 and 12 with bottom wall 14 and havingdepending spaced legs 16 and forming a recess or interior volume 18 toreceive dish 20 of congruent shape to chafing dish 2.

[0022] In this particular instance, chafing dish 2 is of metalconstruction and has depending lateral supports 22 and 24 which in thisparticular instance are welded or otherwise secured, as by means orbolts, to the side walls 10 and 12 of chafing dish 2. It will be notedthat the lateral supports 22 and 24 terminate in suspended shelf 26having side walls 28 and 30 with continuous surface 32 and with therearward edge of shelf 26, as best seen in FIG. 2, having an upraisedlip or flange 34 extending the length thereof. Obviously the lip orflange 34 may not necessarily extend the entire length of the rearwardedge but instead may be spaced tabs or even a single, centered upraisedabutment.

[0023] The shelf 26 is of sufficient size and is supported a sufficientdistance beneath bottom wall 14 of chafing dish 2 so as to accommodateconventionally available heater unit 40 having self-contained source offuel such as a can of butane 42 within the compartment or space formedin heating unit 40. It will be noted that in unit 40 is the conventionalpiso electric ignition starter 44 control for butane fuel 46 and burnerassembly 48, and those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatupon actuation the heating unit 40 emits butane fueled flames in theburner area 48 so that when heating unit 40 is positioned on surface 32of shelf 26 the bottom wall 14 and hence food (not shown) containedwithin container 20 are heated. The heater unit 40 of course isadequately retained in position as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 and ishelped to maintain the positioning by reason of lateral lip or flange34. Cover 50 completes the commonly found assemblage of a chafing dishthat is utilized for containing food to be heated and from which food isto be dispensed.

[0024] While the chafing dish 2 with the received heating unit 40 may beadequately carried from place to place without the burner 40 falling offthe shelf 26, in most instances it has been found that by providing thelip or flange 34 it is easier to carry the dish 2. In other instances itmay be desirable to more captively receive or retain the heating unit 40in the assemblage as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 5 aretaining member 60 comprising a simple stop member is associated withthe front edge 62 of shelf 64 so that by rotating the abutment member 60into the vertical position as shown in FIG. 5 the heating unit 40 isadequately retained on the shelf 64 for transport. For removal of theheating unit 40 the abutment 60 is merely rotated 90° about its pivotpoint or screw 66 in order to allow clearance of the heater 40therefrom.

[0025] Thus, there has been described and illustrated a chafingdish-like device which is relatively simple in construction, easilymanufactured and is primarily and uniquely adapted to receive aconventional heating unit which allows for replenishing of the butanesource of fuel and which does away with the hazardous use of opencontainers of heated and fired flammable substances and furtherdispenses with the need of having a sophisticated heating member's hosesand connections and wherein the chafing dish in its assembled form withheater is easily carried from place to place in a safe and easy manner.The chafing dish of the invention also allows for compact storage inthat the heater and chafing dish are stored and carried as a unit.

[0026] While the dish-like device of the invention has been describedwith regard to specific elements, those with ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that other changes and modifications will be readilyapparent as, for example, the chafing dish-like device may notnecessarily be rectangularly shaped, but could be square. Additionally,instead of having a lip or flange extending the entire length of theback edge of the shelf, one may have other means of providing anabutment stop so as to allow the heating unit that is conventionallyfound in the marketplace, is adequately retained within the assemblageand these are matters that will make themselves apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art as will the means of supporting the shelf,whether it be from the side walls of the chafing dish or from the legs.All such changes and modifications are intended to be covered by theappended claims.

[0027] While the present invention has been described with regards toparticular embodiments, it should be recognized that additionalvariations of the present invention may be devised without departingfrom the disclosed inventive concept.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dish-like device from which food is to bedispensed comprising the combination of: an open topped member defininga container having side and bottom walls and being adapted to containfood, said open topped member having depending legs adapted to besupported from a surface; a shelf having lateral edges and beingcooperatively supported from said open topped member a predetermineddistance from said bottom wall and defining a space of predeterminedsize, said shelf having an upraised projection on at least one of saidlateral edges.
 2. A dish-like device in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid upraised projection is a lip extending the length of one of saidedges.
 3. A dish-like device in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidspace of predetermined size is adapted to receive and house a heatingmember.
 4. A dish-like device in accordance with claim 3 wherein saiddevice is rectangular in configuration and is fabricated of metal andsaid heating member is a burner assembly having a self-contained sourceof fuel.
 5. A chaffing dish from which food is to be dispensedcomprising the combination of: an open topped member defining acontainer having side and bottom walls and adapted to contain foodtherein; a plurality of legs cooperatively associated with saidcontainer and depending downwardly and being adapted to be supportedfrom a surface; a shelf cooperatively suspended beneath said bottom walland defining a space therebetween, said shelf having a continuoussurface and being about congruently shaped to said bottom wall; saidspace being sufficient in size to receive within said space, in closetolerance relationship to said bottom wall a heating unit whereby foodcontained within said chaffing dish may be heated.
 6. The chaffing dishin accordance with claim 5 wherein said chaffing dish is rectangular inconfiguration and said shelf has an upraised lip extending the length ofone of its long sides.
 7. The chaffing dish in accordance with claim 6wherein said chaffing dish and plurality of legs are of metalconstruction.
 8. The chaffing dish in accordance with claim 7 whereinsaid chaffing dish additionally includes a heating unit having aself-contained source of fuel.
 9. The chaffing dish in accordance withclaim 8 wherein said shelf is supported from said chaffing dish alongits short sides.
 10. The chaffing dish in accordance with claim 9wherein said shelf has a heater unit retention member on the long sideopposite said upraised lip.